Spirit Lake Read online

  Luke stopped short. “Rip up Gull Landing? But that’s the town’s only other park. It’s the best grassy bluff with a perfect view of the stars at night. That’s where I planned to take Lianne to…”

  “To what?”

  “We’re not there yet, but down the road I’d planned to propose to her there. In the meantime, it’s where we go on picnics.”

  “Yeah. Well, if Sam has his way, it’ll soon be a bunch of high-rise apartments blocking out the view entirely.”

  “He can’t do that.”

  “Look, to hear Sam tell it, the place is an eyesore, an overgrown weed lot. He thinks he’s a mover and a shaker. The thing is, Sam’s not being honest with the voters. When I asked him directly, he denied it as fact. Lied right to my face. But when I went to the bank, it’s common knowledge he wants that property for a real estate deal. Even the tellers knew about it. And Sam’s in charge of anything that goes at that bank. He’s always the final decision whether anyone gets a loan or not. It seems the money for this specific real estate deal is coming from one of Montalvo’s old partners.”

  “But Montalvo murdered his wife. He’s locked up,” Luke pointed out.

  “Doesn’t mean he isn’t still pulling strings around here behind the scenes.”

  “But the bank is run like an old-time farmer’s co-op. The Coyote family set it up like that.”

  Lando slapped Luke on the back. “You know that, and I know that, but times they are a-changing, brother. Sam wants to alter the rules for his own gain. And I don’t think he gives a hoot about anything that helps the little guy.”

  The hour was late, and yet, when they got back to the house, everyone sat around and contemplated what to do.

  “We need to get out the vote,” Leia said.

  “What good would that do?” Gemma countered. “Who do we campaign for?”

  “Maybe we could come up with a write-in candidate,” Lianne suggested. “Like Nova Coyote.”

  “Write-ins almost never work,” Luke grumbled. “It’s laughable. There’s no one who’d get that kind of support.”

  “Well, whatever we do, we need to do it fast. The filing deadline is quickly approaching,” Lando pointed out.

  Zeb scratched his head. “I can’t believe there’s no one else willing to run for mayor who could beat those guys.”

  “But someone should file before the deadline,” Lydia added. “If not, we’re doomed to elect someone who doesn’t even have the town’s best interests at heart. As unfaithful as Fleet was, at least he cared about the town.”

  “Mom…” Leia began, “you do it.”

  “Me? No way, kiddo. I’m up to my neck in running the restaurant and not getting any younger.” She threw a glance Gemma’s way. “What about you?”

  “No way. I just don’t have what it takes to be a politician. All those phony baloney lies that have to roll off the tongue, sweet as molasses. I don’t think so. Look what Lando says Wells is doing. Sam’s lying to his constituents right off the bat mere hours after he enters the race.”

  “But that’s just it,” Lianne said, “the system will never change unless the person we elect stands up for the town, not his own special interests.”

  Luke shifted in his chair. “Assuming Sam Wells wins, we have to be prepared to stop him from tearing up Gull Landing. That park was set up by the founders the same year they left the reservation. They used that area for ceremonial pow-wows. There’s powerful medicine there. I’m not sitting idly by and letting that jerk get rid of a landmark.”

  Gemma patted his shoulder. “None of us want that. But we’ll need extraordinary luck to change the direction of this race in our favor.”

  After everyone left, Lando helped her clean up the dishes. The house was quiet, the solitude welcoming.

  “You look sleepy.”

  “I had way too much to drink.”

  “Then why don’t you head on to bed,” he suggested.

  “I’m too…keyed up even with the wine.”

  “You know, the day I found that piece of moonstone I wasn’t completely honest with you.”

  “This morning?”

  “There was more to the story. After I picked it up, I was standing there holding it and it was like my life flashed into the future. I knew we’d get married. And I knew it wouldn’t work out.”

  “All these years and you never said a word to me about that kind of vision?”

  “I wanted it to work, Gemma. More than anything. And I thought I could will the marriage to work out no matter what, to will our being together to be the right thing for both of us. I thought what I saw was so far off the mark that I wanted it to be wrong.”

  “But it wasn’t wrong.”

  “No, it wasn’t wrong.”

  “What about now? What are we doing, Lando? Is the pressure that great now? What if we weren’t meant to be together after all?”

  “Do you believe that? In here.” He placed his hand over her heart. “Because I love you with everything I have. I’ve never wanted anyone else.”

  She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his chest. “There’s never been anyone but you for me. I’ve always loved you, for as far back as I can remember. How can it not work out between us if we feel that way about each other?”

  “I don’t have the answer to that. Why don’t we go buy you a new ring? To replace the moonstone and start fresh.”

  “We could shop together for the perfect ring to go with the pendant. Because I’d like to design the ring myself. That really would be starting over from scratch with none of the negative energy from the past.” She tilted his head down to hers. “You’re worried about me. I can see it in your eyes. Don’t be. As long as the stones are together, they’ll keep me protected. I’m not as weak as you think I am.”

  He didn’t want his skepticism to ruin the moment so instead of arguing, he covered her mouth and backed her out of the kitchen. “Let’s not talk anymore. Let’s go to bed.”

  As usual, every time they hit a rough spot, they avoided talking about their problems, substituting sex for honest dialogue and letting it fester for another day.

  6

  Before Gemma ever got out of bed, she heard the wind whipping through the courtyard outside, bringing a squall with it onshore. She could hear the gusts howling against the solarium, battering the sides of the old stucco. “I hope my hydrangeas withstand this kind of beating. The blooms looked so fragile I can’t imagine them hanging on in this kind of storm.”

  “I hope the boaters have enough sense to come in out of the whitecaps, knowing the surf will be rough,” Lando countered, as he rolled over in bed to nuzzle her neck. “Today’s the hunt for the perfect dress. I remember what you wore the first time around.”

  She laughed and nuzzled right back. “Don’t remind me. This time I promise I’ll really look like a bride.”

  “You looked fine at our tacky Las Vegas wedding. Remember that ugly red and gold carpet?”

  “How could I forget since it matched the pair of red jeans I wore. What was I thinking?”

  “You were in love.”

  “Mmm, still am,” she muttered, wrapping her arms around his neck. “I just have better taste in clothes than I did when I was eighteen.”

  “I like you better like this, not a stitch of anything on.”

  “You’re gonna make me late picking up Leia and Lianne, aren’t you?”

  “Count on it.”

  When they did finally crawl out of bed, they found it still overcast and dreary, a thick, soupy end-of-July haze crippling traffic.

  After swinging by and picking up Leia and Lianne, Gemma made up for lost time by speeding into Crescent City and past the harbor. She noticed all the new construction popping up everywhere she looked. “Downtown hasn’t changed much but look over there.” She pointed to a strip mall with a bulldozer out front. “They must be expanding.”

  “That’s the bridal boutique,” Leia screeched from the passenger seat, tapping the
glass. “Slow down. If you weren’t going sixty miles an hour, you could see the sign hidden behind the bulldozer. There. It says Tying the Knot. They used to have a store downtown but were doing so much business they needed a bigger shop to handle more inventory, which is why they moved over here. It’s the only place around for miles that sells wedding gowns and prom dresses. If we don’t find something here, we’ll have to go to Eureka.”

  Gemma was unimpressed with the outside but slowed to a crawl and made the turn into the parking lot, ripped up by the construction work. Clumpy potholes were everywhere. Gemma squeezed her Volvo into a narrow space and sat there taking in the rundown surroundings. “This isn’t exactly what I was expecting.”

  “It’ll be fine,” Leia told her. Shifting in her seat she looked for help from Lianne, sitting in the back. “Since we aren’t looking to pay five grand for a dress, this shop should have what we want. Tell her, Lianne.”

  “I’m sure it’s fine,” Lianne said, but her tone wasn’t at all that convincing.

  “Is that police tape over there?” Gemma asked, clearly willing to head over to Eureka. “That looks like crime scene tape to me.”

  Lianne gulped. “Maybe they had a robbery here.”

  “You guys are acting like we’re in downtown Los Angeles or something. Don’t be such babies,” Leia challenged as she opened her door. “This is a great shop. You’ll see.”

  “Why am I not convinced?” Gemma mumbled as she reluctantly got out. Once the others were standing outside the Volvo, she pushed the button on the remote, locking it up tight in hopes the car wouldn’t get stolen or they wouldn’t get robbed in broad daylight.

  Tying the Knot also had an adjacent flower shop next door. Which was probably the reason the sweet smell of lilies hit them as soon as they opened the door.

  A nicely dressed woman in her thirties responded to the jingle of the bell and appeared from the back. “Which one of you is the bride? I can usually tell, but you three are making it difficult to pick.”

  “Actually, we have two brides,” Lianne announced, pushing Gemma forward. “This one has an end-of-August date, which is getting closer by the minute. We agree she goes first. And Leia is waiting until fall.”

  “October,” Leia added proudly.

  Gemma sent the woman a friendly smile. “These two are my bridesmaids, so I’ll need to pick out dresses for them while I’m here. And in turn, we’re Leia’s. So, if we find dresses we like, you’re in for a big sale all around today.”

  The woman beamed and held out a delicate hand. “My name’s Carly Waverly. I own this shop.”

  Leia frowned. “I thought it was an older woman who did. I’m sure this is where Brittany Ames bought her gown two years ago and Talia Davis bought hers. I’m certain it was an older woman who worked here then.”

  “My mother was the proprietor until she got sick last February. She’s doing better now, but still not well enough to come in every day. Now what can I show you? Surely you have something in mind for starters.”

  “I’d like something off the shoulder in a creamy white. You now, summery,” Gemma began. “I brought a picture of what I had in mind.”

  Carly studied the tulle and lace and the style. “Excellent. And what about bridesmaids’ gowns?”

  “Well, Leia here is my maid of honor, but I want both her and Lianne to wear the same soft lilac color. I’ve always loved satin so having all three dresses in that is a plus for me.”

  “I’ll see if I have anything like that in stock. If not, we may have to order that color, though.” Carly turned to Leia. “And what are your preferences?”

  “I also brought a photograph. I’m hoping for a V-neck sweep with lace down the arms in antique white.”

  “And for your bridesmaids?”

  Leia took out another photo, this one from a magazine. “Sweetheart dresses in midnight blue.”

  Carly gathered up the photos and headed off to the back. “Have a seat and we’ll get started. Would you like anything to drink? We have champagne and some excellent wine choices.”

  “That sounds great,” Lianne answered for all of them. “But what’s with the police tape out front? That is police tape, right?”

  Carly waved a hand in the air. “Oh, that. They were expanding the parking lot and found a body under the pavement four days ago, nothing but bones really.”

  “You’re kidding?” Gemma said, looking stunned. She went over to the front window and looked out. “Male or female? Or do they know yet?”

  “The paper this morning said female. Years ago, one of the local teens went missing. Cheri Taylor. Everyone in town searched and searched for days but came up empty. There’s been a lot of speculation that they’ve finally found Cheri.”

  A cold chill moved through Gemma. Through the glass, she stared at the gaping hole in the pavement outside and felt the violence rip through her belly. “Has this strip mall always been here?”

  “Only for about fifteen years,” Carly answered. “Why?”

  “Is that when it was built…originally?”

  “During the financial downturn the economy slumped and as I recall the land sat vacant for quite some time before the developer found the money to finish the project.”

  “Who was the developer? Do you know?”

  “I’m fairly sure it was financed by Marshall Montalvo. He was a big deal around these parts before he got arrested.”

  That sick feeling returned to Gemma’s belly. “You guys drink your champagne while Carly hunts down the dresses, I need to go call Lando.”

  Retrieving her cell phone, she hit Lando’s number and stepped outside. She walked toward the dug-out crater with a knot in her stomach, all the while she searched the Internet for anything about the case. Only five hits popped into her frame. When Lando picked up she went into the specifics from Carly, adding a few of her own. “The connection to Marshal Montalvo is undeniable.”

  “Are you able to get close enough to take a picture?” Lando asked.

  “I’m practically standing on top of it. I can take dozens if that’s what you want, but it’s just a hole in the ground.” She snapped a couple of photos and texted the results to him. “Take a look.”

  “Wow. The pavement’s recently dug up. And you say this girl disappeared fifteen years ago?”

  “Cheri Taylor. C-H-E-R-I. She was fourteen when she went missing.”

  “I’ll call the medical examiner and see if he has anything new. Thanks, Gemma. This could definitely be another victim.”

  Gripping her pendant, Gemma added, “Cheri had already been strangled when the killer put her there and paved over the spot. She was killed somewhere else.”

  “Are you okay, Gemma?” Lando asked, concern in his voice.

  She forced herself out of her fog. “I’m fine. Let me know what you find out.”

  She went back inside but the excitement had been somewhat diminished, like someone had tossed a wet blanket on her joy.

  The others were waiting for her to go first. After trying on a dozen or so, she settled on an off-the-shoulder gown made of soft, creamy satin that had a little V-neckline at the inset. The dress had an elegant draped bodice, crystal buttons for trim, and a V-back that cascaded down to the waist and into a chapel-length train.

  “It’s the perfect summer gown,” Carly tossed out. “You look radiant. Satin really is your thing.”

  “I have to say she’s right,” Leia agreed, wide-eyed that this was really happening. “With your coloring, the satin makes you shimmer.”

  “Lianne, look at the price tag for me,” Gemma pleaded, her hands covering her face. “I can’t do it.”

  Lianne turned the tag around. “It’s a thousand dollars.”

  “Oh, crap. That’s more than I intended to spend. But I want it anyway.”

  “Then get it,” Leia whispered. “You’re marrying my brother. You deserve this one fantastic dress. If we have to, we’ll cut corners somewhere else.”

  Gemma stood in front
of the three-way mirror. “You’re right. I deserve this.” She twisted one way, moved another, and then watched from every angle as the gown swished and swirled around her. “I’ll take it.”

  “Fabulous!” Carly said, clasping her hands together. “Now on to you, Leia. Your turn.”

  It didn’t take a dozen gowns for Leia to find the right one. She gravitated to a classic dress in antique ivory with long, lacy sleeves down to her hands, and a sweeping train that looked like something out of a fairy tale.

  “It’ll certainly make a statement in the fall,” Carly encouraged.

  Gemma nodded. “It’s you, Leia. It’s exactly the same kind of dress you described when we were thirteen.”

  “I know. I can’t believe this is real.”

  “It’s real all right,” Lianne commented, her eyes tearing up. She grabbed a tissue out of the box on the little table. “You two make me so jealous right now that I’m tempted to whip out my credit card and buy one too. I’m feeling sentimental and crazy. The prospect of a wedding makes me think…of Collette. When we were kids we used to talk about our big day, talk about what we’d wear just like you two did. And Luke and I haven’t known each other long enough for me to be picking out wedding dresses.”

  Gemma put her arms around Lianne’s shoulders, resting her head there. “You have to remember that Leia and I have known Lando and Zeb forever. We all grew up together. We’re just so glad you’re part of this, part of our lives now. And when it’s your turn, we’ll be there for you just as if Collette were right here in this room. That’s a promise.”

  Leia made it complete when she joined the group hug. “I’m lucky Gemma moved back home. Otherwise, I’m not sure I’d have had the courage to take this step with Zeb.”

  “That’s what’s crazy,” Gemma started. “That right there. You’d have done fine on your own. Eventually.”

  Leia stepped back to look in the mirror again. “All right. Someone tell me how much this baby is gonna set me back.”

  Gemma picked up the tag. “Aren’t you the lucky one? It’s on sale for nine hundred, marked down from twelve.”

  “So that’s the one?” Carly asked before the woman could change her mind.